Water For People-India Trust

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR COMPREHENSIVE BASELINE STUDY FOR A
PROJECT IN SAGARDWIP, PATHARPRATIMA, AND GOSABA IN SUNDARBANS
REGION

A. Background

Water For People India Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in underserved communities across India. Established in 2008, the organization focuses on sustainable, community-driven solutions, empowering local populations to manage and maintain their water resources. They have an established presence in Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand and Assam where they have been implementing comprehensive safe water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion (WASH) initiatives and impacted the lives of 2.6 million people so far.

A project in Sundarbans aims to demonstrate a sustainable, community-led drinking water model for fragile coastal ecosystems. Rooted in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), the initiative focuses on source sustainability, efficient use, and local governance to build long-term water security and resilience in the Sundarbans. The initiative will be rooted in scientific evidence and community realities, combining hydrogeological screening, water quality testing, and participatory social research. The first step of this initiative will be a Comprehensive Baseline Study, designed to generate a hydro-social profile of the selected sites, ensuring that interventions are technically feasible, environmentally sound, and socially inclusive.

B. Objectives of the study

• To conduct a detailed situational and baseline assessment covering water access, quality, availability, and usage patterns in selected sites under the project in Sundarbans initiative.
• To understand community perceptions and behaviours around water use, salinity, coping mechanisms, and willingness-to-pay for improved water services.
• To assess hydrogeological and water quality parameters to determine the feasibility of various water supply solutions.
• To establish a hydro-social baseline that integrates both scientific data and social insights for informed decision-making and site selection.
  
  Pilot Sites for the Study
  
  The Comprehensive Baseline Study will be conducted in one Gram Panchayat each from the following blocks of the Sundarbans region: Sagardwip, Patharpratima, and Gosaba.
  
  Key Tasks:
  
  The consultant/research team will undertake the following tasks in close collaboration with Water For People’s technical and program teams:
  
  1. Preparatory Assessment and Study Design-
  • Review existing secondary data (demographic, hydrogeological, and climatic profiles of the study areas).
  • Prepare an Inception Report detailing methodology, tools, and sampling framework for both social and technical assessments. 
    
    
  2. Household-Level Surveys -
  • Conduct structured surveys covering household demographics, water sources, collection time, reliability, seasonal variability, affordability, and gendered dimensions of access.
  • Estimate beneficiary numbers and identify high-risk or vulnerable groups. 
    
    
  3. Qualitative Research and Community Engagement-
  • Conduct Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Social Mapping, and Transect Walks to capture lived realities and local knowledge.
  • Explore community perceptions on water quality, salinity, service reliability, and willingness-to-pay.
  • Document gendered impacts and local coping strategies for seasonal water scarcity. 
    
    
  4.Hydrogeological Screening-
  • Conduct rapid hydrogeological mapping to understand aquifer characteristics, depth to water table, and source vulnerability.
  • Identify potential pilot sites for intervention. 
    
    
  5. Water Quality Assessment -
  • Water testing will be conducted based on sample size determined by the number and type of water sources (surface/ ground water through tubewells) across the study sites to ensure spatial and source-wise accuracy.
  • Field-level tests: for key indicators such as TDS, salinity (EC), turbidity, pH, and bacterial contamination.
  • Compare results against BIS standards and categorize sources by safety, sustainability, and potential for inclusion in the project in Sundarbans initiative. 
    
    
  6. Data Analysis and Reporting-
  • Integrate hydrogeological, water quality, and social data into a unified baseline report.
  • Analyze community preferences and technical feasibility to guide site selection and system design.
  
  Deliverables
  
  1. Inception Report – Detailing tools, methodology, and timeline.
  2. Field Data Sets – Household survey data, FGD’s report and water testing reports.
  3. Preliminary Analysis Report – Findings summarizing key insights.
  4. Comprehensive Baseline Report – Including hydro-social mapping, feasibility analysis, and beneficiary profiling.
  5. Presentation to WFP Team – Summary of findings and recommendations for pilot site selection.
  
  Expected Outcomes
  
  
• Establishment of a scientific and community-validated baseline for the project in Sundarbans initiative.
• Identification of viable and safe water sources for intervention.
• Strengthened understanding of community water behaviors, willingness-to-pay, and governance dynamics.

Evidence-based foundation for designing sustainable, community-led water systems

Proposal submitted to:

Proposal (technical and financial) to be sent in the name of WATER FOR PEOPLE INDIA TRUST at Indiacareers@waterforpeople.org within  3^rd, November,25

The Comprehensive Baseline Study needs to be completed by 30th November 2025.

Job Email ID: Indiacareers(at)waterforpeople.org